Impacto de la altura en el embarazo y en el producto de la gestación

Gustavo F. Gonzales

doi:10.17843/rpmesp.2012.292.349

Authors

Gustavo F. Gonzales Unidad de Reproducción Humana, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Perú. Médico doctor en Ciencias.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2012.292.349

Keywords:

Altitude, Pregnancy, Fetal death, Gestational age, Pre-eclampsia, Child

Abstract

This review describes adverse outcomes in pregnancy after brief, intermittent, or permanent residence at high altitudes. Review of literature shows that congenital malformations rates are higher at high altitudes. Additionally, rates of stillbirths, small size for gestational age, and preeclampsia are increased in populations living at high altitudes and are associated with high maternal hemoglobin levels (>14.5 g/dl). In conclusion, a pregnant woman exposed briefly, intermittently, or permanently to high altitudes results in increased risk of adverse outcomes when compared to pregnancies observed at sea level.